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A Littlehampton community hub has had a life-saving defibrillator installed, thanks to the support of The Sussex Heart Charity

The Sussex Heart Charity, renowned for its dedication to advancing heart health awareness and facilitating access to essential medical equipment, played a pivotal role in making this vital addition to The Wickbourne Centre.

The Clun Road facility is a busy community hub owned by Arun Church and shared with West Sussex County Council’s Arun East Family Hub. There are various activities for children, young people and families at the centre including a coffee shop and pre-school.

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The installation of the defibrillator at The Wickbourne Centre was made possible thanks to The Sussex Heart Charity. Picture: The Sussex Heart Charity.

Strategically positioned outside The Wickbourne Centre, the new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) ensures immediate accessibility to visitors, staff, and community members in need of urgent medical assistance. In emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest, the AED's ability to administer an electric shock to restore normal heart rhythm significantly enhances the chances of survival from under 10 per cent to over 80 per cent.

"We are immensely grateful to the Sussex Heart Charity for their donation of the AED," remarked Jon Jolly, Executive Lead for Arun Church. "The installation of this defibrillator is significant as it is the only publicly accessible device within half mile radius of the centre. While we hope it is never needed, it is available for the whole community at any time."

Littlehampton community hub gets life-saving defibrillator installed